He had imagination enough to be almost persuaded
of fairyland by her earnestness, and she certainly took him into
doll-land. He had a turn for carpentry and contrivance, and he
undertook that the Ladies Rosella, etc., should be better housed
than ever. A great packing-case was routed out, and much ingenuity
was expended, much delight obtained, in the process of converting it
into a doll's mansion, and replenishing it with furniture. Some was
bought, but Martyn aspired to make whatever he could; I did a good
deal, and I believe most of our achievements are still extant.
Whatever we could not manage, Clarence was to accomplish when he
should come home.
His arrival was, as usual, late in the evening; and, as before, he
had the little room within mine. In the morning, as we were
crossing the hall to the bright wood fire, around which the family
were wont to assemble before prayers, he came to a pause, asking
under his breath, 'What's that? Who's that?'
'It is one of the Hillside pictures. You know we have a great many
things here from thence.'
'It is SHE,' he said, in a low, awe-stricken voice. No need to say
who SHE meant.
I had not paid much attention to the picture. It had come with
several more, such as are rife in country houses, and was one of the
worst of the lot, a poor imitation of Lely's style, with a certain
air common to all the family; but Clarence's eyes were riveted on
it.
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